Southern California -- this just in

Bicyclists plan ride in downtown L.A. to protest 'unfair treatment'

February 24, 2010 | 11:31
am

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition plans to hold a bike ride Wednesday afternoon to call for justice for victims of hit-and-run accidents and to protest what it says is unfair treatment of cyclists.

The ride is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. at Melrose Avenue and Heliotrope Drive in Hollywood and end at Los Angeles City Hall, where participants will attend a meeting of the City Council's transportation committee.

The ride will trace the route local cyclist Ed Magos used to take on his daily commute to City Hall, where he works in the information technology department. Magos was injured Jan. 6 when he was struck from behind while cycling on 2nd Street near Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles.

The driver who struck Magos "stopped, got out of her car, looked at Ed’s prone and injured body lying in the street, and ignoring Magos’ cries for help, got back in her car and drove away -- leaving Magos lying helpless until the LAFD paramedics arrived to take him to Good Samaritan Hospital," coalition leaders said in a statement.

The motorist, who later went to an Los Angeles Police Department station, was not charged with a crime.

"I think that anyone can agree that when a person hits someone from behind and leaves the scene, it's a hit-and-run," said Aurisha Smolarski of the coalition. "We're seeing a large amount of hit-and-runs just being swept under the rug and disappearing."

An LAPD spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Magos was unable to attend the bike ride because he is still recovering from his injuries.